The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus

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Japan as Spoiler in the Six-Party Talks: Single-Issue Politics and Economic

Diplomacy Towards North Korea
Maaike Okano-Heijmans
Japan as Spoiler in the Six-Party Talks: Single-Issue Politics and Economic Diplomacy Towards North Korea
Maaike Okano-Heijmans

Abstract
This paper analyzes Japans concerns, as well as its prioritization and leverage points, in multilateral negotiations on North Koreas nuclear programme within the
Six-Party Talks. It argues that Japan has deliberately taken an obstructionist stance in multilateral negotiations and that three issues are relevant to understanding
Japans actions: Japan's close relations with the US, its preference for economic rather than political diplomacy, and the dominance of single-issue politics
influenced by domestic political considerations. In the Six-Party Talks, Japan has played a largely circumstantial role in the practical sense while being a powerful
spoiler in broader, strategic terms. Tokyo wants a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and a stable neighbour, but a Six-Party Talks solution which would enhance
Chinas standing is in itself not a priority. Moreover, Pyongyang provides a welcome justification to the Japanese government for the enhancement of its security
capabilities. Japanese interests are well served by retaining the status quo, which explains why Tokyo consciously adopted the role of spoiler. After the Bush
administration removed North Korea from its list of terrorism sponsoring states, this position appears no longer sustainable.
Introduction
Since 2003 the Six-Party Talks have brought together North Korea, the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia in comprehensive negotiations
revolving around the issue of North Koreas nuclear weapons programme. It was Japanese Prime Minister Obuchi Keizo who made the initial proposal for six-party
negotiations in 1998, [1] when the Japanese government was driven by a fear of being left out of multilateral negotiations on an issue of great importance to its
national security. Responses from other countries at the time were lukewarm at best, however. None of the then Four-Party Talks members saw immediate value
in including Japan or Russia. While supporting the four-way talks, the Japanese government used the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization
(KEDO) as a channel to address its concerns. Only after the US claim in October 2002 that North Korea had disclosed a uranium-based nuclear programme, did
the parties agree to a six-way multilateral dialogue, including Japan. [2] Japans participation and cooperation in the Six-Party Talks (SPT) was deemed of
importance in order to reach a comprehensive deal with North Korea. [3]
Although the Japanese government has made it clear that North Korea poses the greatest threat to its national security, [4] it is not so much Pyongyangs nuclear
devices and missiles as the alleged abduction of some seventeen Japanese nationals from Japan by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s that is the chief focus of
Japanese politicians and policymakers. [5] This issue has framed the bilateral and multilateral relations with North Korea since 2002. It is also the reason for
Pyongyangs repeated calls to exclude Tokyo from the Six-Party negotiating table and other parties concern over a slowdown in negotiations.
The question must be asked why the Japanese government prioritizes a bilateral issue while its national and regional security at large is at stake. Japans
successful test of its missile interceptor system in December 2007 and the deployment of anti-ballistic missile units in its capital city show that Japan in
cooperation with its closest ally, the United States is stepping up its national defense. [6] Certainly, the North Korean threat facilitates the otherwise
controversial military enhancement of Japan in a context of uncertainty about the US commitment and an increasingly stronger China. Could it be that a focus on
the abductions serves to prolong the threat and justify Japans security policy?
Washingtons conciliatory approach in the wake of Pyongyangs nuclear test of October 2006 left Tokyo in an awkward position. The credibility of the United
States as an ally is a big concern. As Washington and Pyongyang slowly moved forward, Tokyo might in the end be forced to follow. This partly explains why the
government appeared to move away from its hard-line stance, characterized by single-issue politics and sanctions. However, a majority of Japanese politicians
and the public strongly opposes any softening of policy.
Economic diplomacy is an important factor in Japans diplomatic strategy. Focussing discussion on the political context, Tokyos diplomatic cards and policies of
the Prime Ministers in office since the initiation of the Six-Party Talks, we argue that Japan has deliberately adopted the role of spoiler in multilateral negotiations.
[7]

Envoys to the Six-Party Talks shake hands at the beginning of a round of the talks in Beijing on July 10,
2008. (AFP / Getty Images)
The Political Context and Japans Foreign Policy Agenda

As with any bilateral relationship, Japans relations with North Korea revolve around an array of international, regional, bilateral and domestic issues. More than in
any other relationship, however, Japans options with regard to Pyongyang are limited. This is true for three important considerations: national and regional security
including the Norths nuclear and missile programme , the abductees and the normalization of relations.
Japans leverage in both the bilateral and multilateral context is constrained by the fact that North Korea is above all interested in improving and developing
relations with the United States, which it regards as the greatest threat to its national security. Pyongyang views Tokyo as a second tier: Washingtons little
brother that needs to be seriously consulted only when deemed to its own benefit. Therefore, a key to solving the security threat that North Korea poses to Japan
lies in the hands of its alliance partner.
From a US perspective, Japans participation in the Six-Party Talks constitutes a critical paradox, particularly after Washington adopted a more engaging stance
towards Pyongyang. On the one hand, US officials admit that a deal with North Korea will need the full backing of Japan. The substantial Japanese economic aid
that would become available with normalization is regarded as a key component of a comprehensive agreement. [8] At the same time, however, Washington has
made it clear that it will move ahead even without an immediate solution to the abductees issue. [9] In an attempt to break the deadlock and avoid having to upset
its ally when moving ahead, the United States in bilateral as well as multilateral meetings pressed North Korea to address the abductees issue with Japan.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that there is a crucial difference in the threat perception between the US and Japan. The two countries share
concerns of nuclear and missile development and export of weapons of mass destruction. Nevertheless, the real threat perception in Japan is much bigger, as
Tokyo seriously fears North Korean missiles, nuclear devices and flows of refugees because of its geographic proximity. Hence, anything less than a complete
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is unacceptable to the Japanese government. This explains Japans rather lukewarm response to the February 2007 SixParty Talks agreement, which includes a time-frame and monitoring mechanism for the declaration of nuclear programs and disablement of existing nuclear
facilities, but addresses denuclearization only in vague terms. [10]
Japans leeway on another major issue of concern is also constrained albeit more by its own choice. Following the negative response from the South Korean
government to Japanese approaches to Pyongyang in 1990, Prime Minister Kaifu Toshiki assured Seoul that Japans policy towards North Korea would move in
line with the South-North dialogue. Japan has generally maintained this stance, especially with regard to the normalization of diplomatic relations. As in bilateral
relations with other countries in the region, the burden of history looms large in talks on official relations. Reparations for wrongdoing during the colonial period and
Pacific War play a vital role in discussion about the establishment of official relations between Japan and North Korea. [11]
The normalization of relations is of importance in bilateral and multilateral talks, giving Japan a diplomatic card in the Six-Party context. Financial compensation or,
as the Japanese insist, economic assistance would provide the North Korean regime with huge funds relative to the size of its economy. These billions of dollars
are addressed in the multilateral context in two ways. First, normalization of Japan-North Korea relations is included as one of the goals in the SPT agreements of
September 2005 and February 2007. Second, the financial stimulus constitutes a carrot to any final comprehensive deal. During one of the SPT sessions, North
Korea implied that economic aid by Japan (and South Korea) would be needed for the ultimate settlement of its nuclear programme. [12] In recent years Tokyo
used this card to indirectly frustrate negotiations, thereby becoming a spoiler of the Six-Party Talks.
This obstructionist stance can be linked directly to developments in the mid-1990s, which made Japan more sensitive to threats in its security environment. The
nuclear crisis of 1993-94, the launch of (test) missiles especially, the Taepodong missile that flew over Japanese territory in 1998 and intrusions into Japans
territorial waters by North Korean spy boats, as well as Chinese nuclear tests induced the government to reconsider its regional and security strategy. [13]
Security considerations received growing media attention and started to play a role in Japan-North Korea relations. Particularly since 2002-03 television and other
forms of media directed the public into a relatively constricted range of views on North Korea through narrow, biased saturation coverage. [14] The focus of
attention was the abductees issue, which became the human face of the abstract North Korean threat.

Taepodong2
Ironically perhaps, North Korean nuclear and missile development is an opportunity in the security field, in the sense that it creates a favourable environment for
stepping-up missile defense and increasing the role of the Self-Defense Forces in developments in areas surrounding Japan. From a regional perspective, the
North Korean threat is thereby a welcome excuse to improve military capacities and Japans regional security, notably towards China.
Tokyos Diplomatic Cards
The funds that will become available to North Korea with the establishment of official relations with Japan are clearly a tool of Tokyos economic diplomacy and
security strategy at large. [15] Financial and economic relations are also of significance. Here, it is clear that Japans leverage over Pyongyang declined with the
sharp downturn in economic relations with North Korea throughout the past decade. [16] Financial flows decreased as the Japanese government in recent years
hardened its policy towards the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chosen Soren in Japanese) and pachinko (gambling parlours), which are widely
believed to have provided Pyongyang with significant sums of cash. By 2006 the total bilateral trade volume had declined to only one third of its 2002 level, from
roughly 370 to 120 million US dollars. A mere 9 million US dollars in exports was left in 2007. [17] Although even at its peak bilateral imports and exports never
comprised more than 0.1 percent of Japans total trade, this trade had been substantial for North Korea. If actual trade and finance gave Japan any leverage
before, this influencing power is now lost due to the measures and sanctions that the Japanese government progressively imposed since 2004. The Japanese
government attempted to exert pressure on North Korea through negative sanctions and the prospect of economic assistance that would follow the normalization
of relations. It is doubtful, however, that the importance which North Korea attaches to Japanese trade and assistance is as large as this policy assumes,
especially when the United States takes a more engaging approach.
In the multilateral context, Japan continuously refuses to cooperate in energy and humanitarian assistance to which the parties committed in February 2007. [18]
Even as Pyongyang delivered the belated declaration of its nuclear programme in June 2008 and other parties supplied the remaining shares of assistance, Japan
upheld that it would not provide assistance as long as no substantial progress was made on the abductees issue. Moreover, bilateral sanctions on North Korea
that were imposed following the missile and nuclear tests in late 2006 remain in place. Only in the run-up to the extension of sanctions in April 2008 did the
government show a desire to change to a slightly different course.
The apparent decline in Japans leverage is all the more important when put into regional perspective, as it stands in sharp contrast with growing South Korean and
Chinese willingness to do business with North Korea. North Koreas trade with China more than doubled between 2002 and 2006. [19] Although normalization
would give the Japanese easier access to North Koreas raw materials (coal, minerals) and improve their relative economic position towards South Korea and
China, the immediate economic gains are obviously much greater for Pyongyang than for Tokyo. Hence, negotiations on normalization and the prospect of
stronger economic ties are still a diplomatic card in Tokyos relations with Pyongyang.
Not only the state of bilateral economic relations but also the economic and political situation in North Korea itself plays a role in Japan-North Korea relations. [20]

Pyongyang feels more confident of leverage over Japan when its economy is in relative good shape. At times of domestic economic crisis and natural disasters
(famine, flooding), however, Pyongyang tends to adopt a more welcoming approach towards Tokyo. Indeed, breakthroughs in bilateral consular issues stand in an
inverse relationship with the state of the economy of North Korea. Pyongyang does not concede on these issues when its economy is (relatively) stable.
Conversely, it adopts a more conciliatory stance when economic crisis is imminent. [21]
Changes in the broader, strategic context inform and reinforce this link between the state of North Koreas economy and its stance towards Japan. Geo-strategic
changes in 1991 prompted North Korea to be more open to communication with Japan. Pyongyang saw the need to engage Tokyo, as its traditional allies Russia
and China from the late 1980s increasingly interacted with their old foes. When North Koreas relationship with the United States was at a low early in the new
millennium, Kim Jong-il also saw benefits in improved ties with Tokyo.
Prime Ministers in control: Koizumi, Abe and Fukuda
The prime ministers who ruled Japan since the initiation of the Six-Party Talks in 2003 have taken very distinct policies with regard to North Korea. [22]
Unsurprisingly, changes in bilateral policy did not fail to leave their impact in the multilateral setting. Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro revamped bilateral talks in
2000 through the resumption of formal normalization talks, which had been stalled since 1992. He left an important legacy with the first bilateral summits in
history, in September 2002 and May 2004. This engaging approach went against the course of President Bush, who early in 2002 famously included North Korea in
an Axis of Evil. During the first summit Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il adopted the Pyongyang Declaration, which formally stated that both sides
would make every possible effort for an early normalization of relations. [23] The Japanese government moved away from Koizumis conciliatory approach,
however, when it stalled official talks in 2002 due to its dissatisfaction with Pyongyangs handling of the abduction issue. [24]

Poster of the animation film Megumi, released by the Japanese government internet television in March
2008 and available for free rental in video stores from August 2008. The movie tells the story of abductee
Megumi Yokota. Source: www.rachi.go.jp.
As Chief Cabinet Secretary under Koizumi, Abe Shinzo of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) successfully used the abductees issue, his long-time petproject, to quickly rise to power. As Koizumis successor from September 2006, Abe took a tough stance against North Korea by continuously demanding a
solution to the issue. [25] Japan made great domestic and international diplomatic efforts to increase awareness of the abductions and to gain broad support for
the abductees as a human rights issue. This proved quite successful in the sense that Washington declared its support, and messages and written statements
were adopted at the G8, the United Nations and the Six-Party Talks. Increasingly, however, the Japanese government was also criticized for hijacking the SixParty Talks by overemphasizing the abductee issue. [26]
Formal negotiation on the normalization of bilateral relations restarted reluctantly in early 2006, with settlement of the abductees issue as a Japanese pre-condition
for the establishment of diplomatic ties. Although the domestic environment was far from conducive to an improvement in relations, Japan was drawn to the
negotiating table because of commitments in the September 2005 six-party agreement. Reopening of negotiations provided an opportunity to confine tension and
appeal the abductees issue bilaterally. [27] In certain ways, the Six-Party Talks thus served as a welcome context to talk with North Korea while not seeming
weak. [28] However, Abe had mobilized so much public support at home for his policy that there was little room for manoeuvre and policy change had become
nearly impossible.
Clearly, the single-issue politics served Abe well. By making normalization conditional to progress in the abductees issue, Japan simultaneously secured greater
international interest and maintained a powerful tool to punish North Korea for lack of progress. Some may conclude that narrow domestic political interests simply
prevailed over broader strategic purposes. At a deeper level, however, Abes policy may be thought of as a conscious attempt to set the bilateral and multilateral
political agenda in a context that is framed by a North Korean regime first and foremost interested in negotiating with Washington. Tokyo is generally relegated to
the sidelines, expected to provide economic assistance when time is ripe. With little to lose bilaterally and lots to gain domestically and strategically, Abe insisted
on this one issue. An obstructing stance furthermore assures that multilateral engagement does not move too fast without real concessions from Pyongyang.

Abe and five abductees who were returned to Japan. February 25, 2007
A major flaw in Tokyos policy, however, was its failure to anticipate that the United States might change to a more conciliatory approach towards North Korea.
[29] A Bush shock thus engulfed Japan when the United States in early 2007 receded from its policy of making substantial progress or settlement of the
abductees issue a precondition for removing North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.
By the time of Abes resignation in September 2007, the abductee issue had acquired such a high profile that the more conciliatory approach desired by Prime
Minister Fukuda needed to be carefully presented. The more accommodating Fukuda strongly hinted that he regarded the nuclear and missile threat from
Pyongyang as a more important issue. [30] He had to be extremely careful, however, to avoid the risk of upsetting the Japanese public, which considering his
soft image would certainly not give him the benefit of the doubt and oppose any policy change without substantial concessions from Pyongyang.
Fukuda aimed for a face-saving way to break the impasse. This approach was in a sense facilitated by the lack of progress in the Six-Party framework in early
2008, which alleviated the need to press on with the abduction issue. [31] Fukuda regarded the Six-Party Talks as a meaningful forum to address larger issues of
concern. Also, the multilateral meetings provided a context for bilateral negotiations. A breakthrough seemed apparent in June 2008. Following intense quiet
diplomacy on Washingtons side, Pyongyang then agreed to reopen investigation into the abductees and Japan pledged to lift some sanctions. [32] Promises were
not followed-up, however, and the stalemate continued.
As the US and North Korea moved towards an agreement in spring 2008 and President Bush announced his intention to remove North Korea from the list of states
sponsoring terrorism, Japan was left in an awkward position. Prime Minister Fukuda showed willingness to take a more engaging approach, but needed a positive
sign from Pyongyang in order to sell such a policy change to the public. [33] Even as Japan feels the pressure of the more engaging US, policy changes can
hardly be justified to the public without progress on the abductees issue. Considering the dire outlook for the North Korean economy in 2008-09 and with
Pyongyang likely wanting to seize the opportunity to improve relations with Washington, progress seemed imminent. A breakthrough did indeed come in October
2008 but it was far from what Japan had hoped for. Forced to choose between moving ahead and upsetting its ally or allowing the deadlock to continue, the
Bush administration chose the former. Following almost a week of intense negotiation by the US nuclear envoy and mounting pressure from Pyongyang through
the firing of missiles and reported preparation for another nuclear test, Washington removed North Korea from its list of terrorism sponsoring states on 11 October.
[34] Japans immobilism and North Koreas decision to await real progress on the side of Japan or the US before proceeding with a reinvestigation of the abductee
issue left the Japanese government with empty hands.
Conclusion: Leverage in the Multilateral Effort
Japans constrained role in the Six-Party Talks is no surprise. Its policy is two-sided: Tokyo plays a largely circumstantial role in the practical sense and is a
powerful spoiler in broader, strategic terms. Its role is circumstantial because its leeway is framed by US initiatives, South Korean consent and Chinese brokering.
Japans bilateral relationship with North Korea is caught in a multiple relations context and complicated by the fact that Japanese and North Korean willingness to
proceed is often at odds. Predictably, Japans actual contributions to the multilateral process have thus been minimal. This is true in proposals and suggestions for
progress, actions to restart negotiations when talks were deadlocked, and outlining a vision for the SPT process in the context of future relations in and around the
Korean Peninsula. [35] Moreover, in refusing to provide energy assistance, Japans commitment to the SPT agreements has been half-hearted at best.

The Six-Party Talks negotiating table (entrance behind PRC seat).

From a security perspective, Japans concerns over North Koreas nuclear and missile programmes appear to be at odds with its (in)action in negotiations
addressing these issues. When taking a closer look, however, it becomes apparent that while Tokyo recognizes Pyongyang as the greatest threat to Japans
national security, Pyongyang provides also a welcome justification to the Japanese government for the enhancement of Japans security capabilities. The North

Korean threat creates leeway to pursue a more proactive military policy and create more offensive capabilities for broader (collective) defense purposes. The
abductee issue serves to give the North Korean threat a human face domestically.
Tokyo wants a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and a stable neighbour, but a Six-Party Talks solution which would enhance Chinas standing is in itself not a
priority. Japanese interests are well served by retaining the status quo, which explains why Tokyo has been consciously adopting the role of spoiler.
Three issues are relevant to understanding Japans actions. These are Japan's close relations with the US, its preference for economic rather than political
diplomacy, and the dominance of single-issue politics influenced by domestic political considerations. Stable and constructive relations of Japan with the US and
neighbouring countries are a general concern. However, the abductees issue shows that Tokyo does not just blindly follow Washington. The Japanese government
stuck to its hard-line policy even as the US since early 2007 moved to a more engaging stance. As the US and North Korea made progress in multilateral and
bilateral negotiations, the Japanese government started moulding public opinion to allow a softer approach. Nevertheless, real policy changes can only be expected
following substantial progress in the abductees issue or in US-North Korea relations. Certainly, the decision by the United States to remove North Korea from the
list of terrorism sponsoring states is crucial in this regard.
Economic diplomacy is used by Japanese policy makers in attempts to exercise power in the bilateral and multilateral context. The promise of economic
assistance and (humanitarian) aid are substantial carrots in negotiations. Furthermore, the prospect of economic assistance that will become available with
normalization is thought to give Japan significant leverage. Japanese aid is required for a comprehensive, multilateral solution to the North Korean crisis.
Recognizing furthermore that the North Korean nuclear and missile threat justifies the steady build-up of military capabilities, Japan under Abe adopted a hard-line
stance towards North Korea. Bilateral sanctions were imposed, trade relations restricted, and financial flows tightened.
Ad hoc single-issue politics is consciously applied by the Japanese government. At times of confrontation, a hard-line posture on (essentially consular) issues
makes a powerful distancing impact, while in periods of engagement these issues facilitate improvement in relations. The Japanese government in recent years
slowed multilateral negotiations through a focus on the abductees issue and deliberately avoided positive actions in its economic diplomacy to reinforce this policy.
Japan assumed that sooner or later it will get what it wants because Japanese money is required for a comprehensive agreement and successful conclusion of
negotiations with North Korea in the Six-Party Talks. [36]
Developments since the first half of 2008 show that Japans (economic) weight does not impede short-term progress on nuclear issues, however. Fukuda realized
that Japan would have little choice but to follow if and when Washington sticks to its engaging approach towards North Korea. This motivated his attempts to
soften the governments hard-line stance in order not to lose face internationally when that would happen. Fukudas resignation as Prime Minister on 1 September
2008 and the appointment of Aso Taro as his successor later that month profoundly altered the situation. [37] The announcement on 30 September that Japan
would extend sanctions for another six months from October was indicative of a return to the tough stance, that Aso had also taken as a Foreign Minister under
Abe.
Asos hard-line approach could even have resulted in Japan walking away from the Six-Party Talks after the United States removed North Korea from the list of
terrorism sponsoring states. After all, the Japanese Prime Minister had rejected Washingtons compromise plan for verification only days before the
announcement. Japans withdrawal from the negotiating table is unlikely, however. Aso was quick to downplay Finance Minister Nakagawas comment that the
American decision to remove North Korea from the terrorism list was extremely regrettable. [38] This step by Washington will no doubt revive discussion in Japan
about the trustworthiness of the US as an ally, but the fundamental importance of the strategic alignment and the need for Japan to be part of negotiations will
take precedence for the foreseeable future. After all, Japan needs to be present at the negotiating table to secure its interests. This includes discussion on the
nuclear status of North Korea, another issue on which Washington and Tokyo may be at odds in the future. It should be noted here, that if Aso decides to
gradually move towards the softer policy that Fukuda propagated, his hard-line, nationalistic credentials render public resistance less likely than under his
predecessor. Japan would then shift away from its obstructionist stance and more actively engage in debates on a (institutionalized) regional security framework,
discussion on which has already started. Future developments will largely depend, however, on the outcome of upcoming elections in both Japan and the United
States, and the strategic realignments in the US-Japan-China relationship that are slowly unfolding.

Maaike Okano-Heijmans is Research Fellow for Asia Studies with the Clingendael Diplomatic Studies Programme at Institute Clingendael in The Hague and
Visiting Fellow at the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy of the Australian National University in Canberra.
This is a revised version of a chapter that appeared in The North Korean Nuclear Crisis: Perspectives From Six Powers, edited by Koen de Ceuster and Jan
Melissen, Clingendael Diplomacy Paper No. 18, The Hague: Clingendael Institute. Post at Japan Focus on October 21, 2008.

Notes
[1] Kuniko Ashizawa, Tokyos Quandary, Beijings Moment in the Six-Party Talks: A Regional Multilateral Approach to Resolve the DPRKs Nuclear Problem,
Pacific Affairs, vol. 19, no. 3, 2006, pp. 411-432.
[2] Many commentators accepted Washingtons claim about the Norths alleged highly enriched uranium programme, while Northeast Asian countries remained
unconvinced. Gavan McCormack, North Korea and the Birth Pangs of a New Northeast Asian Order, Arena, Special Issue No. 29/30, 2008.
[3] Looking back on this period Shigemura harshly criticizes the Japanese government for being weak and having been too eager to enter the SPT, arguing that the
success of a Six-Party agreement depends on willingness of the Japanese to provide funds. Shigemura Toshimitsu, Chosen Hanto Kaku Gaiko Kitachosen no
Senjutsu to Keizairyoku [Korean Peninsula Nuclear Diplomacy North Koreas Strategy and Economic Power] (Tokyo: Kodansha, 2006), pp. 63-64.
[4] Various issues of the annual Diplomatic Bluebook, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Defense of Japan, Ministry of Defense (before 2007, Defense Agency).
[5] The Japanese government currently identifies seventeen Japanese citizens as having been abducted by North Korea and continues investigations into other
cases in which abduction is not ruled out. Five abductees returned to Japan in 2004. North Korea long asserted that eight abductees died and that it has no
knowledge of the four others. In June 2008, however, Pyongyang agreed to reopen investigation into the issue. For the Japanese viewpoint, see:

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